Traditional neighbourhoods consist of, inter alia, traditional alleyways, indigenous courtyard houses, traditional bazaars, mosques, public baths, schools, etc. Only residential areas and their alleyways are considered in this paper; even then, only their passive solar design aspects are dealt...

During the day, there are considerable variations in the climatic factors prevailing in these regions. This is especially so during the 24-hour daily cycle of the long, hot and dry summer (mid-May to midOctober). Such climatic conditions have had a considerable impact on the daily living pattern...

Indigenous courtyard houses (particularly those in towns and cities in the regions of the hot-dry climates) have largely satisfied the needs of their inhabitants from many points of view. They have also made a positive contribution to the housing stock, built environment, architectural output,...

New-build, low-cost housing can incorporate concepts of micro-climatic control and of environmental design as well as of passive solar design, energy-efficient building and environmentally-friendly architecture, without necessarily incurring significant additional cost. This is particularly so...